Knock Some Commands Into Your Laptop 196
An anonymous reader writes "For the first time, you can smack your computer and get a meaningful response! An article at IBM Devworks show you how to rap on the laptop case with your knuckles and have commands run on those knocks. Enterprising hackers have developed modules for the Linux kernel to take advantage of laptop integrated accelerometer sensors; with them the possibilities are endless."
This technology was first developed... (Score:2, Funny)
multiple desktop switching (Score:5, Informative)
A MacOSX program called VirtuaDesktops has integrated this sort of thing, but it's still a bit finicky. You knock the laptop and it switches to the next desktop in the direction you knocked. It needs some debouncing because the recoil often just switches you right back to where you were.
Knock knock! (Score:5, Funny)
It looks like you're calling for help.
Would you like help?
* Telegraph CQD RAPE RAPE STOP NEED HELP PDQ STOP
* Just signal your distress without help
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:5, Informative)
I think there is a video called "SmackBook" that demonstrates the use of the software you described. I thought it was posted on Slashdot.
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:2)
Not the first time linux too (read my previous comment if you want video), but it probably is the first time published by entity that will make a lot of fuzz about it.
Re:not the first time (Score:2)
SmackEdit (Score:5, Interesting)
Lots of fun at the coffee shop.
Re:SmackEdit (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/HDAPS [thinkwiki.org]
Re:SmackEdit (Score:5, Informative)
On the typewriters I have used, the bell doesn't ring when you do a carriage return. It rings when you reach a certain column so that you know that you are beginning to reach the end of the line and that you may want to do a carriage return before typing the next word.
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:5, Funny)
WINDOWS XP Version (Score:1)
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:3, Informative)
Macs also have a few other apps such as stable window which keeps a window upright while turning the laptop around, plus a few games that work on a similar principles such as "Neverball" amongst others. There are even widgets that tap into the AMS to play small ball-in-hole games.
My particular favourite is the app that turns your powerbook into a light saber making sound effects as you swing it around. (MacSab
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:2)
Re:multiple desktop switching (Score:2)
Within moments of this article being posted... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Within moments of this article being posted... (Score:1)
deskstar became deathstar around where i work.
Re:Within moments of this article being posted... (Score:1)
I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:3, Interesting)
http://www.gnome.org/~fherrera/blog/gtollina [gnome.org]
C'mon... Admit it:)
btw. hitting your wife is so 70's. Now its all about hitting computers.
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:5, Funny)
That is where most of us get our sex anways.....
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:1)
Have you heard of the Panasonic Toughbooks? Their top of the line model can be dropped onto concrete from over a metre and withstand the fall. It can also operate at sub-zero temperatures because it has a built-in hardware (particularly hard drive) heater. Its case is made from titanium, and of course being Panasonic, it has an SD card slot.
They are expensive though. The cheapest I've seen one in NZ is just over $4,000 (NZD).
With that sort laptop, I wouldn't care about giving it a thump.
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:2, Redundant)
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:2)
SB
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:2)
I think there's a pontential in the adult market for these things. They break their toys too.
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:2)
Funny you should mention that. My Toshiba M-200 TabletPC has an acellerometer in it. It comes with a little app to do things when it detects a sudden movement. I set up my laptop to make the "waaaah!" sound from Quantum Leap whenever Al slapped the handlink. Th
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:1)
Aw c'mon, not even to test the new OhSh*tImInFreefallParkTheHeadBeforeWeBounce command?
Re:I don't know about you, but. . . (Score:2)
re: shouldn't really be a worry (Score:3, Insightful)
Therefore, the sensors are very sensitive - registering a response to levels of shock well below what would actually harm a spinning laptop hard drive. (If your drive was frag
This is not new (Score:5, Informative)
Re:This is not new (Score:1)
Re:This is not new (Score:2, Insightful)
Itsy had "Rock n Scroll" in 1998 (Score:2)
Re:This is not new (Score:2)
Re:This is not new (Score:2)
What is that program? (Score:2)
pffft ... (Score:4, Funny)
I'm waiting for them to enable the self destruct sequence on Dell laptops
Re:pffft ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:pffft ... (Score:2, Insightful)
So I can use... (Score:5, Funny)
How 'bout compiler engines? Will it detect knocking in them?
Re:So I can use... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:So I can use... (Score:2)
Won't work for me... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Won't work for me... (Score:2)
Actually I've not heard of a single case of exploding laptops/mobile phones here in the UK (anyone else?), I figured that may be to do with higher standards that electrical parts (esp the electronics protecting the batteries) must pass to be able to be sold here or something. The laptop's actually very well behaved, the trackpad works better than any other I've used (which I think is one of the mo
random sensors..... (Score:5, Interesting)
Gyroscopes for Orientation (pitch,roll,yaw)
More accelerometers
Altimeter
GPS
External temperature,humidity, pressure
Pressure sensors (which determine how hard the user is banging on the keyboard in aggrevation).
Thermal imaging
Re:random sensors..... (Score:1, Offtopic)
Wow...I typed that previous post quick but even still, I haven't mangled a word that bad in a while.
I am my own grammer nazi....
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
I sincerely and abjectly apologize, but I couldn't resist.
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
Bad correction, corrected badly. (Score:2)
Just because his sentence doesn't loo
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2, Insightful)
Gyroscopes for Orientation (pitch,roll,yaw)
More accelerometers
Altimeter
GPS
External temperature,humidity, pressure
Pressure sensors (which determine how hard the user is banging on the keyboard in aggrevation).
Thermal imaging
I'm all for that, except my backpack is not big enough to fit nuclear power pla
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
Yes, such things exist. Back in 1982 I wrote a data acquisition and display program for one of those on an Apple ][. Fortunately, I was never treated to the sight of one in actual use, but I did see the recorded output. It was
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
And seriously! Who knew back then that computers would demonstrate nocturnal tumescence! You were ahead of your time, sir!
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
Re:random sensors..... (Score:2)
Thank you for calling IBM Warranty services... (Score:5, Funny)
"Uh, well, I was drunk and I, uh... My screen is cracked."
Re:Thank you for calling IBM Warranty services... (Score:2)
*knock* "Why aren't you doing the dishes?! One knock for dishes, two for laundry!" *Krrrack*
"IBM tech support, how many I help you?"
"..my wife broke my Thinkpad over my head..."
New Dialog box (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:New Dialog box (Score:1)
Bert
Re:New Dialog box (Score:1)
What they need to do... (Score:3, Insightful)
My guess is that most people get fixated on the monitor or don't realize that if they wanted to do damage then need to strike the components that actually do the work.
Re:What they need to do... (Score:2)
Dumb dumb dumb... (Score:2, Insightful)
Write press release - introduce a few whiz-bang apps or games - stumble over an article about the concept ten years later and laugh at the idea all over again.
At least it's not the next Z-Board.
Hmm.. something useful here (Score:3, Funny)
2. sell microsoft stock
3. buy google stock
4. profit!
Re:Hmm.. something useful here (Score:2)
I guarantee.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I guarantee.... (Score:1)
Re:I guarantee.... (Score:2)
(wait for it . . . )
Real port knocking protocol? (Score:3, Funny)
"Why isn't the USB port working?"
"Knock first!"
The Best Possible Response (Score:5, Funny)
"Help, help, come see the vviolence in the system... help, help, I'm being repressed!!!"
Re:The Best Possible Response (Score:3, Funny)
MacBook : "Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.
Re:The Best Possible Response (Score:2)
It was only on this one particular machine, and I've never found anyone report the same thing...
What? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What? (Score:2, Funny)
Or, you could just wave your hand over your Mac... (Score:5, Interesting)
Peep a video here:
http://blog.medallia.com/2006/06/shadowbook.html [medallia.com]
Cheers!
Re:Or, you could just wave your hand over your Mac (Score:2)
Quake (Score:3, Funny)
Morse Code (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Morse Code (Score:2)
It would be a piss-poor way to learn - because learning Morse Code also involves learning the hand and wrist motions for keying.
So... (Score:2)
I can take a framing hammer to my laptop, and it'll install Ubuntu in response?
SB
can someone tell me (Score:2)
the best use of this technology (Score:2)
Seems to me the best use of this technology is to do something that nobody has ever been able to do with a computer before: make a realistic pinball game, one where you can actually nudge the machine to control the ball (and risk getting a tilt).
I've been able to slap sense into my windows... (Score:3, Funny)
I've been able to slap some sense into my windows for quite some time now. It comes built-in to X11.
First off, choose a cursor theme in which the cursor for moving a window is a hand, such as any of the comix cursor themes in Debian. Next, on those rare occasions when a program misbehaves, hold down the Alt key to warn the window. Finally, click and drag the mouse anywhere on the offending window briefly, while the Alt key is still held down.
Congratulations, you've just slapped some sense into the misbehaving window.
The Module - with apologies to E. A. Poe. (Score:5, Funny)
Over many a quaint and curious man page of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, to page down I started tapping,
On the case of laptop rapping, rapping to see one page more.
`'Tis a kernel module,' said I, `understanding taps galore -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Underwood (Score:3, Interesting)
Whack the monitor with your right hand to produce a carriage return and a ding.
Would that not be totally retro-cool?
Smack alerts (Score:3, Funny)
But is it useful? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:But is it useful? (Score:2)
"This is the BSA - take your hands off your keyboard and back away!" the raiders alert everyone - however, since they can't be everywhere at once...
Tap, tap, tappity-tap - with your foot on the floor, or your knuckles on the desk - and "ZOT!" (or maybe "BOOM!", depending on how you rig it) - there goes the hard drive...
Ok, maybe this is VERY far fetched, and really wouldn't work as well as I described (might make a good p
use your laptop as a controller (Score:2)
New Kernel ready for pounding? (Score:2, Funny)
bash: shave-and-a-haircut: command not found
When can we measure earthquakes on them? (Score:2)
Yes, but... (Score:2)
secret password (Score:2)
Have it automatically call the insurance company.. (Score:2)
Macbook Pro can utilize integrated light sensor (Score:2)
Here's an example where the guy turns on and off a 'shelf' terminal app...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slZDN7zeMWI&c [youtube.com]
meaningful smack response script (Score:2)
mplayer ~/samples/ouch..._that_HURT.wav
Re:Obligatory Starter Thread - KNOCK, KNOCK! (Score:1)
Re:Obligatory Starter Thread - KNOCK, KNOCK! (Score:2, Funny)
Laptop owner (trying knock commands): knock knock
Laptop: who's there?
Laptop owner: me
Laptop: me who?
Laptop owner (frustrated, tries again): knock knock
Laptop: who's there?
Laptop owner: your owner
Laptop: your owner who?
Laptop owner: want your owner to knock you on the ground again?
Laptop: okay, okay, no need to become violent!
Re:A new type of password? (Score:1)
Also, 90% of the 'knockphrases' (you read it here first!) would be "knock knock kn-knock knock... knock knock".
Re:A new type of password? (Score:1)
Or maybe you could just have various aspects of your desktop hidden unless you knock a specific pattern.
Re:That's great, and yet... (Score:2)
I'd love to buy a decent card with open drivers. I'd even contribute $100 to the development fund, it there were a serious attempt to reverse engineer it. However, as I understand it, graphics drivers are very hard to reverse engineer.
Re:That's great, and yet... (Score:2)